Pawprint Studios' upcoming Aniimo made a splash at the recent Xbox Games Showcase, drawing more than a few comparisons to an obvious source of inspiration: Pokémon. While Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are still plowing ahead with their seminal monster-collecting RPG, games like Aniimo prove that there's a demand for different spins on the tried-and-true monster-catching formula, which many gamers are viewing with increasing disdain, criticizing Nintendo and Game Freak for shying away from innovation and experimentation.
But it's not quite as simple as taking the Pokémon formula and running with it, unfortunately. Nintendo, despite being a beloved leader in the games industry, has built a reputation as being incredibly litigious, mercilessly squashing anything that could be perceived as infringing on its intellectual property. Infamous instances of this include the suing of a small Costa Rican grocery store named "Super Mario," after its owner—a case that the grocery store recently won. Within the realm of gaming, few Nintendo lawsuits have been as notorious as the ongoing case against Palworld, Pocketpair's gunpowder-fueled spin on the Pokémon template, which proved to be a viral sensation when it launched in early access last year. With Aniimo creeping up on Nintendo's territory, the Palworld suit might just be the beginning.
Palworld May Come to Nintendo Switch 2, But Pocketpair Can't Sing the Tune Alone
There may come a time when Palworld will find itself on the next-generation Nintendo console, but only if one particular thing happens.
Aniimo Runs the Risk of Being the Next Palworld, and Not in a Good Way
Palworld Is Still Being Sued by Nintendo
When Palworld was first revealed, gamers saw the writing on the wall: the game's visual style and premise put it directly in the crosshairs of Nintendo's famously trigger-happy legal team. Endearingly dubbed "Pokémon with guns" by audiences, Palworld's creature design and game mechanics immediately drew comparisons to Nintendo's leading creature-collecting franchise, and many argued that it was only a matter of time before Nintendo would attempt to leverage intellectual property law against the game.
That's exactly what happened in September 2024, when Nintendo filed an injunction against Palworld, citing specific mechanics like capturing Pals in spheres and riding around on Pals as copyright infringements. Naturally, this has stirred a bit of controversy, with many feeling that Nintendo is punching down and discouraging healthy market competition; Palworld is significantly distinct from Pokémon beyond these mechanics, after all. Regardless, Nintendo's lawsuit appears to have gained some traction, with Palworld removing features like the ability to summon Pals by throwing a Pal Sphere and using Pals for flight. According to Pocketpair, these changes were made as a direct result of the Nintendo lawsuit. Time will tell how this case develops, especially as Palworld evolves throughout early access.
How Aniimo Can Avoid Palworld's Legal Pitfalls
There are several factors that play into why Nintendo chose to sue Palworld instead of other Pokemon-inspired games like Cassette Beasts and Temtem, not the least of which being its unbridled popularity: something like Temtem definitely has its fans, but it's not the viral sensation that Palworld is. Additionally, it would appear that simply bearing a resemblance to Pokémon, either in terms of visuals or a broad-strokes monster-catching premise, isn't enough to warrant a lawsuit from Nintendo. Rather, it's specific mechanics, like the Pal Sphere, that form the grounds for legal action, as Nintendo can argue that such mechanics transgress intellectual property rights.
Aniimo's action-RPG elements, specifically as they pertain to the Twining mechanic that defines how Aniimos function in gameplay, could be enough to differentiate it from its Pokémon predecessors. The game could hit some legal snags once more of its mechanical particulars are revealed, and perhaps Nintendo will attempt to assert some dominance if it deems something like Aniimo's traversal abilities as being too similar to what's on offer in Pokémon games. But as long as Aniimo's gameplay remains distinct, it could be safe from litigation regardless of its obvious Pokémon influence.
- Released
- 2026
- Developer(s)
- Pawprint Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Kingsglory
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer
WHERE TO PLAY
Step into the world of Aniimo, a vibrant free-to-play Action RPG where adventure meets discovery. Developed by Pawprint Studio and published by Kingsglory, Aniimo brings creature collection to life with rich gameplay and evolving bonds.
Explore stunning landscapes, collect unique Aniimo, and unlock their true potential through care, training, and evolution. With the innovative Twine feature, you can merge with your Aniimo to gain new abilities and strengthen your connection.
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Adventure, RPG, Creature Collector
- Platform(s)
- Android, PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
